Advocates Bhabishwar Gurung and Kumar Acharya, in their petition, said that the decision to withdraw Khanal´s candidacy was not in accordance with the interim constitution. Gurung is believed to have close links with UML leader Bam Dev Gautam. [break]
Prime Minister Nepal, Chairman Khanal, Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang and parliament have been made defendants in the petition.
The petitioners have said that a prime ministerial candidate does not need two-thirds majority in parliament to get elected. Khanal had sought support of 401 parliamentary members while a prime ministerial candidate needs support of 301 to get elected, they claimed.
“Seeking two-thirds majority to become prime minister is unconstitutional,” states the writ, adding, “The court should issue an order to reinstate the Khanal´s candidacy.” The CPN-UML central committee had decided to seek support of 401 parliamentary members instead of 301. The initial hearing on the writ has been scheduled for July 28.
Meanwhile, some UML leaders and parliamentary members close to KP Oli have termed the writ a ´drama´. “This is just a drama engineered by Bamdev Gautam and Khanal to influence the next round of voting scheduled for August 2”, they said.
Sources said senior UML leaders close to KP Sharma Oli and Prime Minister Madhav Nepal have taken it as a conspiracy to further complicate the situation. “Senior party (UML) leaders have taken it very seriously as it is going to further complicate the situation instead of resolving the matter within the party,” a close-aide of Oli told myrepublica.com.
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